From the team behind Tepui tents comes hitch-mount gear startup HitchFire, and its all-new Forge 15 grill. A burlier, more adventuresome breed of hitch-mounted grill, the Forge 15 rides just behind the bumper, ready to fire up for everything from a couple of burgers at the trailhead to a full-blown tailgate or bonfire party. It's built to travel bumpy backways as seamlessly as smooth highways, ensuring wheel-based travelers are ready to sear and flip the minute they arrive.
We've seen the occasional hitch-mounted grill in the past, usually designed for parking lot tailgates or local picnics. HitchFire creators have designed their grill with something a little bolder in mind – grilling "where no one has grilled before." A sort of automotive-grade answer to go-anywhere grills like the Wolf and Grizzly Grill and Firekorf, the Forge 15 is built for everything from deep-backcountry camping and overlanding, to après ski/surf/bike grilling, to sport and concert tailgating.
![The HitchFire Forge 15 packs up and rides on a 2-in vehicle hitch](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/79fb60f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5237x3491+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fb8%2F63e24c624b779fa2e9803f32a405%2F55a9808.jpg)
HitchFire's idea is to move the bulk and mess of the grill out of the vehicle, clearing truck bed/load area space for other camping and adventure gear, while making it quicker and easier to start grilling. Those aren't bad goals given that a grill tends to be a char-covered mess after a single cookout and large, awkwardly shaped and not particularly conducive to packing neatly inside a vehicle with other gear. Plus, imagine how much easier it'll be to pull off a mountain road and grill up a scenic lunch with the Forge 15 as opposed to a grill buried below tents, sleeping bags and boxes of camping tools.
It seems the Tepui crew is looking to strike the same vehicle-based adventure goldmine that led them to starting one of the most recognized brands in roof-top tents before a near-eight-figure sale to global vehicular storage giant Thule. We're not sure a hitchable grill has that same broad appeal, but we didn't necessarily foresee the roof-top tent's meteoric rise in popularity, either.
![The Forge 15 is built to hold up to the abuses of road and trail – though we think HitchFire might want to consider a tight-fitting cover, ASAP](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/043970c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4240x2832+0+0/resize/1437x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2F66%2Fc6d5b03742fb8748f4c70989c012%2Fkickin-dust-8-12-2020-vzh-hitch.jpg)
Whatever its fate on the market, the HitchFire Forge 15 is built to hold up to the rigors of the field, capable of battling much more than just left-lane cruising on its way to base camp or tailgate. It features a powder-coated steel body built atop a tubular frame that attaches to standard 2-in receivers. The swing-away function makes for more comfortable grilling, setting up at both 90- and 180-degree angles.
Cooking-wise, the Forge packs 355 sq in (2,290 sq cm) of cooking surface over top dual 7,500-BTU propane burners. It's designed to serve up to 10 people and can fit 14 burgers at once, according to HitchFire. Eliminating the need to carry around a bulky propane tank, it runs on small 16-oz propane bottles.
Those that don't want to use the Forge 15 on the vehicle can easily remove it and use it on a table instead. The grill's two side worktops fold out to provide prep/storage space, folding away neatly under the lid during travel. And, of course, there's a built-in bottle opener, as well.
![Forge 15 chefs can also drop the grill on a table for cooking](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/f2cb520/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4240x2832+0+0/resize/1437x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8d%2Ff1%2Fca0cb0fa4d43828a4494a4db8c1a%2Fproduct17-table-grillopen-8-8-2020-vzh.jpg)
The US$449 Forge 15 is up for preorder this month, complete with a 20 percent discount code on offer until September 30. HitchFire plans to begin shipping in mid October.
Source: HitchFire